Arjun slowly walked back to his fielding position after completing his first over.
His chest rose and fell as he tried to control his breathing. The morning sun was beginning to grow warmer, and sweat rolled down the side of his face.
His mind replayed every ball he had bowled.
The first ball that surprised everyone.
The short ball that flew for six.
The cover drive that raced for four.
The final dot ball that ended the over.
Cricket was strange.
Six balls could feel like an entire battle.
Near the boundary, the simple whiteboard scoreboard had been updated.
Team A – 11 runs after 1 over
Not a terrible start for the batting team.
But not complete domination either.
As Arjun reached his fielding position at deep square leg, one of his teammates clapped him lightly on the shoulder.
"Not bad for your first over."
Another player added with a grin,
"You survived."
Arjun gave a small smile but didn't reply.
Inside his mind, he was still analyzing the mistakes.
The short ball.
The over-pitched delivery.
He knew Karn had seen everything.
And Karn missed nothing.
From the boundary line, Karn stood silently with his arms folded across his chest.
His eyes were not on the scoreboard.
They were on the players.
Especially Arjun.
Because Karn believed something simple:
Talent appears in success. Character appears after mistakes.
The next bowler from Team B stepped forward.
Raghav.
One of the fastest bowlers in the academy.
Tall, broad-shouldered, and confident.
He grabbed the ball from the captain and began walking toward his run-up mark.
"Let's tighten the pressure," the captain said loudly.
The fielders adjusted their positions quickly.
The two batsmen prepared themselves again.
The opening batsman who had hit the six earlier was still at the crease.
He tapped his bat on the pitch confidently.
Raghav stood at the far end of the pitch, staring at the stumps.
Then he began his run-up.
Unlike Arjun's smooth rhythm, Raghav's run was aggressive and powerful.
His feet struck the ground with force.
His arm came over fast.
The first ball shot toward the batsman like a bullet.
The batsman barely managed to defend it.
The ball dropped near his feet.
Dot ball.
"Good start!" the captain shouted.
Raghav turned and walked back again.
His second ball was even faster.
This time the batsman tried to pull it toward the leg side.
But the timing was not perfect.
The ball flew high into the air toward deep square leg.
And that was exactly where Arjun was standing.
For a split second, everyone looked upward.
The ball was climbing high… then dropping quickly.
Arjun reacted instantly.
He sprinted forward.
Dust rose behind his shoes as he ran.
"Catch it!" someone shouted.
The ball was falling faster now.
Arjun stretched both hands forward.
Time seemed to slow down.
The red ball dropped into his palms.
For a moment, it almost slipped.
But he tightened his grip firmly.
THUD.
Caught.
The ground erupted with cheers.
"OUT!"
Team B players ran toward him.
Raghav raised both hands in celebration.
"Great catch!"
"Beautiful!"
The batsman who had smashed the earlier six stood frozen for a second before shaking his head and walking back toward the boundary.
Arjun looked down at the ball still resting in his hands.
His heart was racing again.
His first wicket involvement in the match.
He tossed the ball back toward Raghav and jogged back to his fielding position.
The new batsman walked slowly onto the pitch.
Meanwhile, Raghav prepared for the next delivery.
The over continued with tight bowling.
Two more balls were defended carefully.
Dot balls.
Pressure began to build on the batting team.
The fifth ball allowed the batsmen to steal a quick single toward mid-on.
The final ball was another defensive shot.
Dot ball.
The over ended.
The scoreboard changed again.
Team A – 12 runs for 1 wicket after 2 overs
Only one run had come from the over.
Team B players clapped loudly.
The pressure had shifted slightly.
As the players changed their positions, the captain looked toward Arjun.
"Arjun!"
Arjun turned.
"You'll bowl the third over."
Some players looked surprised again.
But the captain simply nodded toward him.
"Karn trusted you with the first over."
"Now show us the second one."
Arjun felt a surge of energy inside him.
His second over.
His chance to correct the mistakes.
He walked slowly toward the bowling mark.
The ball was handed to him again.
It felt familiar now.
Less intimidating.
From the boundary line, Karn leaned slightly forward.
Now came the real test.
Because the first over shows courage.
But the second over shows learning.
Arjun reached his mark and turned toward the pitch.
The new batsman tapped his bat on the ground.
The other batsman watched carefully from the non-striker's end.
The fielders adjusted their positions.
Arjun took a deep breath.
Then he started his run-up.
First Ball
The ball left his hand with better control this time.
It pitched on a good length outside off stump.
The batsman moved forward to defend.
The ball struck the bat softly and rolled toward point.
Dot ball.
"Good!" the captain shouted.
Arjun walked back calmly.
Second Ball
This time he tried to swing the ball slightly inward.
The delivery landed just outside off stump again.
The batsman attempted a drive.
But the timing was poor.
The ball rolled slowly toward mid-off.
The batsmen ran quickly.
Single.
Third Ball
The new batsman now faced Arjun.
Arjun decided to test him.
He bowled slightly fuller.
The batsman tried an aggressive cover drive.
But the ball took the edge.
It flew low toward the slip area.
For a moment, it looked like a catch.
But it bounced just before reaching the fielder.
The ball rolled away.
The batsmen quickly ran two runs.
Arjun exhaled slowly.
Close.
Very close.
Fourth Ball
The pressure was building again.
Arjun adjusted his grip.
He focused on the seam carefully.
He ran forward.
The ball pitched perfectly on the off stump line.
The batsman tried to push it toward mid-wicket.
But the shot was mistimed.
The ball rolled slowly toward short mid-wicket.
No run.
Dot ball.
Fifth Ball
The batsman became impatient.
He stepped forward early, trying to hit a big shot.
Arjun noticed the movement.
He shortened his length slightly.
The ball rose unexpectedly.
The batsman swung hard.
But the ball hit the top edge of the bat.
It flew high into the air.
Fielders looked up.
For a moment it seemed like a chance.
But it landed safely between two players in the deep.
The batsmen ran two runs.
Sixth Ball
The final ball of the over.
Arjun wiped the sweat from his forehead.
He wanted to finish strongly.
From the boundary line, Karn's eyes were still locked onto him.
Arjun began his run-up again.
This time the delivery was perfect.
Good length.
Right on the off stump.
The batsman tried to defend.
But the ball moved slightly away.
The bat missed.
The wicketkeeper caught it cleanly.
Dot ball.
The over ended.
The players clapped again.
The scoreboard updated once more.
Team A – 17 runs for 1 wicket after 3 overs
Arjun stood near the pitch, breathing deeply.
His second over had been better.
More controlled.
More disciplined.
From the boundary line, Karn gave another small nod.
Not praise.
Not celebration.
Just acknowledgment.
And for Arjun…
That silent approval meant everything.
The match was slowly heating up.
And Arjun was beginning to find his rhythm on the battlefield.